Method and device for transferring packets

ABSTRACT

A method and device for transferring packets, whereby two parallel, superimposed rows of packets are fed in a horizontal direction to a first transfer station, and the lead packets in the two rows are then conveyed in a vertical direction from the first transfer station to a second transfer station, where the lead packets are parted in the vertical direction; at this point, the parted lead packets are transferred in the horizontal direction to a heat-shrink unit having two parallel, superimposed, substantially horizontal channels, each of which is engaged by a respective row of packets.

The present invention relates to a method and device for transferringpackets.

The present invention may be used to advantage in cigarette packing, towhich the following description refers purely by way of example.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In cigarette packing, two superimposed, parallel rows of packets ofcigarettes are fed to a cartoning machine for producing packages orcartons, each containing a group of two superimposed rows of packets ofcigarettes; and, upstream from the cartoning machine, the packets ofcigarettes fed to the cartoning machine are normally fed through one ormore operating units (typically for heat-shrinking the plasticoverwrapping of the packets of cigarettes), one of which usuallycomprises two parallel, feed channels separated by partition members andeach engaged by a respective row of packets.

Transferring the rows of packets to the feed channels is a highlydelicate operation, during which the L LABEL two rows of packets mayshift out of line, thus creating processing problems downstream from theoperating unit, and/or the packets may undergo damage caused by improperinsertion inside the channels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and devicefor transferring packets, designed to eliminate the aforementioneddrawbacks, and which, at the same time, are cheap and easy to implement.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method oftransferring packets, as claimed in the attached claims.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a device fortransferring packets, as claimed in the attached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A number of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a device in accordance with thepresept invention;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of a detail in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a devicein accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a section along line IV-IV of a detail of the FIG. 3device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Number 1 in FIG. 1 indicates as a whole a device for transferringpackets 2 of cigarettes (not shown), and which comprises a conveyorassembly 3 for conveying two rows 4 and 5 of packets 2 along a feed pathP to an operating unit 6.

Packets 2 are each wrapped in a respective overwrapping 7 of heat-shrinkmaterial, e.g. cellophane; and unit 6 heat-shrinks overwrappings 7 ofheat-shrink material, and is located upstream from a known machine (notshown) for producing cartons (not shown) of packets 2.

Conveyor assembly 3 comprises a transfer unit 8 for feeding rows 4 and5, parallel to each other and in a given substantially horizontaldirection A, to a transfer station 9; transfer unit 8 comprises a beltconveyor; and rows 4 and 5 are arranged, at transfer unit 8, oneunderneath the other and directly contacting each other.

Conveyor assembly 3 also comprises-a transfer unit 10 having a pusher 11and a known actuator (not shown) for moving pusher 11 vertically. Inactual use, as it moves up, pusher 11 intercepts and pushes a packet 2 ain row 4 upwards in a given substantially vertical direction B to atransfer station 12 located immediately upstream from unit 6 along pathP; and, as it is pushed upwards, packet 2 a lifts up an end packet 2 bin row 5.

A parting assembly 13 at transfer station 12 parts packets 2 a and 2 bin direction B, and comprises a positioning unit 14, which positionspacket 2 b correctly at transfer station 12, and in turn comprises agripping head 15. Gripping head 15 comprises two gripping members 16,each of which is movable about a respective substantially horizontalhinge 17 and is held in position by a respective elastic member 18.Positioning unit 14 also comprises a known actuator (not shown) formoving gripping head 15 in direction B.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, gripping head 15 comprisessuction cups.

In actual use, as packet 2 b is fed to transfer station 12, members 16engage the lateral walls of packet 2 b so that packet 2 b is gripped bygripping head 15, which is then raised in direction B to detach packet 2b from packet 2 a.

In an alternative embodiment, gripping head 15 is fixed, and, in use,once packet 2 b is gripped by gripping head 15, pusher 11 is lowered todetach packet 2 a from packet 2 b.

Conveyor assembly 3 also comprises a transfer unit 19 for transferringthe parted packets 2 a and 2 b, in direction A, from transfer station 12to respective feed channels 20 of unit 6, and which comprises a pusher21, and a known actuator (not shown) for moving pusher 21 in directionA.

Unit 6 comprises two conveyors 22 for conveying respective rows 4 and 5along channels 20, which are substantially horizontal and separated by apartition member 23. Conveyors 22 and partition member 23 each compriseknown heating plates (not shown) for heating packets 2 and so shrinkingoverwrappings 7 about packets 2.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an alternative embodiment of device 1, whichcomprises a known transfer unit (not shown) for conveying packets 2 aand 2 b, in direction A, along path P to transfer station 12 locatedupstream from unit 6.

Parting assembly 13 comprises a positioning unit 14′ located at transferstation 12 and in turn comprising a suction gripping head 15′, and aknown actuator (not shown) for moving gripping head 15′ in direction B.Parting assembly 13 also comprises retaining members 24 for retainingpacket 2 a when, in use, packet 2 b is gripped and raised by grippinghead 15′; and elastic gripping members 25 located on opposite sides ofgripping head 15′, and which engage the lateral walls of packet 2 b toclamp packet 2 b in a given position. In certain embodiments, retainingmembers 24 comprise suction devices.

Once packets 2 a and 2 b are parted, the packets 2′a and 2′b immediatelyupstream from packets 2 a and 2 b push packets 2 a and 2 b in directionB to unit 6.

Though the above description and the accompanying drawings refer totransferring packets of cigarettes, the teachings of the presentinvention also apply to transferring packets of other than cigarettes,such as packets of food products, confectionary, or toiletries.

1) A method of transferring packets, the method comprising conveying afirst row (4) of packets (2) and at least a second row (5) of packets(2), substantially parallel to the first row (4), along a feed path (P)to an operating unit (6) having at least one pair of channels (20); andinserting each row (4, 5) inside a respective channel (20) of theoperating unit (6) by transferring the row (4, 5) in a given firstdirection (A); the method being characterized by comprising a firsttransfer step to feed at, least one lead packet (2 a) in the first row(4) and at least one lead packet (2 b) in the second row (5) to a firsttransfer station (12) located upstream from the operating unit (6) alongthe feed path (P); a parting step to part the two lead packets (2 a, 2b), at the first transfer station (12), in a second direction (B)crosswise to the first direction (A); and a second transfer step, afterthe parting step, to feed each lead packet (2 a, 2 b) in the firstdirection (A) into the respective channel (20) of the operating unit(6). 2) A method as claimed in claim 1, and comprising a third transferstep to convey the first and the second row (4, 5), parallel to eachother and in the first direction (A), to a second transfer station (9)located upstream from the first transfer station (12); during the firsttransfer step, the lead packet (2 a) in the first row (4) and the leadpacket (2 b) in the second row (5) being conveyed from the secondtransfer station (9) to the first transfer station (12). 3) A method asclaimed in claim 1, wherein, during the third transfer step, the firstand the second row (4, 5) are in contact with each other. 4) A method asclaimed in claim 1, wherein, during the first transfer step, the leadpackets (2 a, 2 b) in the first and second row (4, 5) are conveyed insaid second direction (B) by first push means (11). 5) A method asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the first push means (11) push the leadpacket (2 a) in the first row (4), which in turn pushes the lead packet(2 b) in the second row (5). 6) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein,during said first transfer step, the lead packet (2 a) in the first row(4) is pushed and, in turn, pushes the lead packet (2 b) in the secondrow (5) upwards in the second direction (B), which is substantiallyvertical; and, after positioning means (14), located at the firsttransfer station (12), have gripped the lead packet (2 b) in the secondrow (5) during the parting step, the lead packet (2 a) in the first row(4) is moved vertically downwards to detach itself from the lead packet(2 b) in the second row (5). 7) A method as claimed in claim 1, whereinsecond push means (21) are located at the first transfer station (12),and, during the second transfer step, convey each lead packet (2 a, 2b), in the first direction (A), to a respective channel (20) of theoperating unit (6). 8) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, duringthe first transfer step, the lead packet (2 a) in the first row (4) andthe lead packet (2 b) in the second row (5) are conveyed in the firstdirection (A). 9) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the firstdirection (A) is substantially horizontal, and the second direction (B)is substantially vertical. 10) A method as claimed in claim 1, whereinpositioning means (14), located at the first transfer station (12), gripthe lead packet (2 b) in the second row (5) during the parting step. 11)A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the positioning means (14) movethe lead packet (2 b) in the second row (5) in the second direction (B)so as to detach the lead packet (2 b) in the second row (5) from thelead packet (2 a) in the first row (4). 12) A device for transferringpackets, the device comprising conveying means (3) for conveying a firstrow (4) of packets (2) and at least a second row (5) of packets (2),substantially parallel to the first row (4), along a feed path (P) to anoperating unit (6) having at least one pair of channels (20), and forinserting each row (4, 5) inside a respective channel (20) of theoperating unit (6) by transferring the row (4, 5) in a given firstdirection (A); the device (1) being characterized in that the conveyingmeans (3) comprise first transfer means (10) for conveying at least onelead packet (2 a) in the first row (4) and at least one lead packet (2b) in the second row (5) of packets to a first transfer station (12)located upstream from the operating unit (6) along the feed path (P);parting means (13) located at the first transfer station (12) to partthe two lead packets (2 a, 2 b) in a given second direction (B); andsecond transfer means (19) for feeding the parted lead packets (2 a, 2b), in the first direction (A), from the first transfer station (12) tothe respective channels (20) of the operating unit (6). 13) A device asclaimed in claim 12, wherein the conveying means (3) comprise thirdtransfer means (8) for conveying the first and second row (4, 5),parallel to each other and in the first direction (A), to a secondtransfer station (9) located upstream from the first transfer station(12); the first transfer means (10) conveying the lead packet (2 a) inthe first row (4) and the lead packet (2 b) in the second row (5) fromthe second transfer station (9) to the first transfer station (12). 14)A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the third transfer means (8)keep the first and second row (4, 5) in contact with each other. 15) Adevice as claimed in claims 12, wherein the first transfer means (10)comprise first push means (11) for conveying the lead packets (2 a, 2 b)in the first and second row (4, 5) in said second direction (B). 16) Adevice as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first push means (11) pushthe lead packet (2 a) in the first row (4), which in turn pushes thelead packet (2 b) in the second row (5). 17) A device as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the first transfer means convey the lead packet (2 a)in the first row (4) and the lead packet (2 b) in the second row (5) inthe first direction (A). 18) A device as claimed in claim 17, whereinthe first and second transfer means are substantially coincident. 19) Adevice as claimed in claim 12, wherein the parting means (13) comprisepositioning means (14) for gripping the lead packet (2 b) in the secondrow (5). 20) A device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the positioningmeans (14) move the lead packet (2 b) in the second row (5) in thesecond direction (B) so as to detach the lead packet (2 b) in the secondrow (5) from the lead packet (2 a) in the first row (4). 21) A device asclaimed in claim 12, wherein the second transfer means (19) comprisesecond push means (21) located at the first transfer station (12), andwhich convey each lead packet (2 a, 2 b), in the first direction (A), toa respective channel (20) of the operating unit (6). 22) A device asclaimed in claim 12, wherein the first direction (A) is substantiallyhorizontal, and the second direction (B) is substantially vertical.